Online Infant & Toddler Group Care Course
This course focuses on the PITC approach to infant/toddler care and addresses how to support health social-emotional development and learning in group care settings and includes academic credit.
19 weeks
English and Spanish
California Subsidized Fee $225; Out-of-State Fee $975
About this Course
The PITC Online Infant/Toddler Group Care Course is an asynchronous online course which means that there are no required 'live' class meetings. This online course runs for 19 weeks in total and students have access to the course at any time of the day or night; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to complete the coursework.
Course topics include an exploration of different temperament tendencies; stages of social-emotional development; self-esteem, security, and social competence; socialization and guidance; and program policies that best support healthy social-emotional development, learning, culture, and families. The course also covers early brain development and learning; discoveries of infancy; culture; partnerships with families; and best practices for inclusive care.
This online course is available for academic credit through California State University Fresno. There is coursework due each week which includes the completion of readings, posting to discussions, quizzes, assignments, and job-embedded practice. It is the students responsibility to complete and submit the assigned weekly coursework and ensure that they stay current in the course.
There is an opportunity (not required) to join five live, virtual Zoom meetings, with the instructors and fellow students. These optional Zoom meetings are held on weeknight evenings with extra credit points available for attendance.
The online platform used for this course is CANVAS and students must have regular access to a computer with internet connection.
Apply Here (Spanish Language Course open)
Space is limited. Priority will be given to professionals working with children under 36 months of age in group care settings in California.
Submit your online application now to be considered for the next cohort. *** You will receive an email notification of your status within two weeks of submitting your application.
Upcoming Courses:
- September 14, 2026 - January 31, 2027 Curso en Español - El plazo de solicitud se abre el 11 de mayo.
- January 19, 2027 - May 30, 2027 - Applications open September 21.
***Agencies/organizations may request additional courses for large groups of students. Additional coaching can be provided upon arrangement. Please contact us for further information.
Fees for Participating in the PITC Online Course
Includes all course materials, required readings, 24/7 access to the online course, and enrollment fees for three units of academic credit. Enrollment fees are non-refundable even in the case of drop or withdrawal from the course.
- California participants working in a group care setting 20+ hours/week with children 0-36 months: $225.00**
- All other participants: $975.00
**Verification of California residency will be required prior to enrollment.
Learning Outcomes
This course will enable students to:
- Increase knowledge and understanding of infant and toddler social-emotional, language, cognitive, and perceptual and motor development.
- Gain skills and knowledge to meet the individual needs of infants and toddlers in group care settings.
- Develop skills to provide more inclusive care for all children and families.
- Enhance understanding of how infants and toddler learn and ways to facilitate their learning
- Learn about the importance of culture and family in the development of the young child.
Participants who successfully complete the course will be eligible for three units through California State University, Fresno. Completion of the course may be used toward California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) Professional Growth Hours and QIS requirements.
Note. The PITC Online Infant/Toddler Gropu Care Course is not the PITC Trainer Institue and does not qualify participants to obtain PITC Trainer certification.
Who Should Enroll?
Professionals working in an infant and toddler child care environment are the intended audience for this course. Priority is given to those professionals currently caring for infants and toddlers in group care settings. This can include:
- Family Child Care Owners, Operators, and Assistants
- Family Friend and Neighbor and In-Home Care Providers
- Center Based Infant Care Educators, Directors, Site Supervisors, and Education Managers
MyPITC.org
Click on the following sections below to find out more information. Need help? Contact pitc-help@wested.org
Attending the Online Infant/Toddler Group Care course requires two steps:
- Please create your account and submit your application in one sitting if possible.
- If you do not already have a MyPITC account, create an account.
- Create your MyPITC account using the email address you want to use for the online course; use an email address that you have access to 24/7.
- Important! For new MyPITC.org accounts, the system will require you to verify your email address. An email will be sent to the email address you entered for you to confirm. Click on the link in that email to confirm your email account which will return you to MyPITC to complete your application.
- SUBMIT your application and wait to be notified via email of being Accepted. Only submitted applications are reviewed for eligibility to attend PITC courses.
- You will receive your PITC Accepted email with the subject line, ‘PITC Online Infant/Toddler Group Care Course Acceptance’. Be certain to check your SPAM folder for this email confirmation.
Return to pay via credit card.
If your agency will be paying on your behalf, please follow these steps in the “Pay and Complete” section when returning to Enroll and Pay:
- Select “Yes” when asked if your agency will be paying for course
- Agency Contact Name – Enter contact name
- Email – Enter contact's email
- Select “Submit Enrollment” button
If you are attempting to START your application and there are no courses listed:
- Please log-out. If logged into My PITC from more than one device, please log out, ie. if you have logged on separately using a computer, phone, ipad, etc. To use myPITC.org you can only be logged in once.
- Refresh the browser.
- Use the Apply link again.
If you are RETURNING to complete you application and your course is not listed:
- Please log-out. If logged into My PITC from more than one device, please log out, i.e. if you have logged on separately using a computer, phone, ipad, etc. To use myPITC.org you can only be logged in once.
- Refresh the browser.
- Use the Enroll and Pay link to try again.
- Please be certain to use the same email address that you used to start your application.
- Please use a computer, our system works best on a computer, not a cell phone.
- If logged into My PITC from more than one device, please log out, i.e. if you have logged on separately using a computer, phone, ipad, etc. To use myPITC.org you can only be logged in once.
- Refresh your browser.
- Make certain that the address used for the company credit card is correct, including the zip code.
- Ensure that the credit card max can cover the amount requested and that the settings on the card allow this type of transaction.
- Ensure the card is a 'credit card' (with Visa symbol for example) and not a pre-loaded card or debit card
- A PayPal Account or a PayPal credit card is not needed - users should be checking out as a Guest.
Application Confirmation: Once you submit your application, you will automatically receive an email confirmation that your application was received. Within two weeks of your application submission, you will receive an email notification of the status of your application.
Acceptance Email and Invitation to Enroll: If accepted, applicants will receive an email notification to complete the enrollment process and submit payment.
Declined Email: If you will not be enrolling in this course, please return to myPITC.org: https://mypitc.wested.org and click on the decline button for this event. A declined email confirmation will be sent.
What people are saying...
"I gained invaluable insights and am eager to apply everything I learned in my role as both a caregiver and teacher. The class was clear, focused, and easy to follow, and I truly enjoyed reading my classmates ideas and shared experiences. It was enlightening to see their unique perspectives on various topics."